Sheet metal link blank for band extension link



June 20, 1961 w, NAPQLI r 2,988,871

SHEET METAL LINK BLANK FOR BAND EXTENSION LINK Filed May 5, 1959 INVENTORS F EDE IQ M /Y4POLI Lou/5 POM/ United States Patent Ofifice Mfg. Corporation, Hoboken, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed May 5, 1959, Ser. No. 811,171 1 Claim. (Cl. 59-82) This invention relates to improvements in watch bracelets and the like, and relates in particular to links which may be added to or removed from bracelets in order to vary the length thereof.

The invention has particular application to an expansion bracelet of the type having links criss-crossed and connected to provide substantially a lazy tongs type of action, said links having spring means which normally maintain the bracelet in contracted condition. An important object of this invention is to provide links which may be readily added by the retail seller to the expansion bracelet proper, making it possible to vary the over-all size of the bracelet as a whole, according to the needs of the individual wearer, while manufacturing the expansion bracelet proper in only a single stock slze.

Another important object of this invention is to provide links which may be added to existing expansion bracelets with substantially no modifications thereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide links which may be added to the expansion bracelet quickly, easily and with a minimum of tools.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; each of the links to be added is formed from a unitary bendable metal blank and has a laterally elongated top main wall. In the form in which the link is shipped to the retail seller, side walls extend downwardly from the main wall plate of the link and are slightly spread outwardly. Bottom flanges extend inwardly from the lower edges of the respective side walls. The side walls have laterally alined apertures. Each link has a short rear flange extending downwardly. from its rear edge. A link rear portion extends rearwardly from the bottom edge of said rear flange and is located slightly below and parallel to the plane of the link top wall. Adjacent its rear edge, said link rear portion has laterally outwardly extending ears or lugs.

To assemble a first link and a second link, the retail seller or other assembler first places the rear portion of the first link below and in abutment with the top wall of the second link. The tabs of the rear portion of the first link are respectively extended through the apertures of the sidewalls of the second link, which are then brought into parallel relationship to hold the tabs in place. The top walls. of the two links are then substantially coplanar, and the rear portions of the two links are then substantially coplanar. The bottom flanges are substantially coplanar and parallel to the top Wall.

Additional links can be added in like manner and it will be apparent that the complete chain cannot be readily disassembled in normal use, and nevertheless has suflicient flexibility for comfort upon the wrist. Links can be added and removed readily by means of pliers or other simple tools. The links may be formed in appropriate manner to receive outer ornamental shells.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watch bracelet in Patented June 20, 1961 accordance with this invention, assembled with a watch and placed over the wrist;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the bracelet of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for a connecting link in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG. 3, in an intermediate set-up condition and in inverted position, thereof prior to its assembly with other links.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing two blanks in a condition and position similar to that of FIG. 4, in an intermediate stage of assembly.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing one of the links in final assembled condition.

FIG. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

In the drawings, the ornamental shell mounted on the link is shown in phantom.

The drawings are substantially to scale of a working model of the invention, and reference is made to the drawings to complete the disclosure herein.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail, it will be apparent that FIG. 1 shows a watch band or bracelet 10 secured to a watch 11, with the whole assembly being placed over the wrist 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the band 10 comprises a plurality of conventional links 13, as in conventional expansion bracelets, together with a plurality of expansion links 14 in accordance with this invention. As will become apparent from the details and description below, links 14. may be readily added to or subtracted from the band to vary its over-all length.

The various links 13 and 14 are preferably covered on' their upper faces with ornamental shells 9.

FIG. 3 shows a blank 14a from which an individual link 14 may be formed, and FIG. 4 shows link 14 in condition for assembly.

Link 14 has a top wall 15 of generally rectangular and laterally elongated shape. Said wall 15 has a pair of longitudinally alined and spaced, centrally located raised portions 15a and in its upper surface, with corresponding indentations in its lower surface, in order to rigidify the wall. These portions 15a and 150 are rectangular and are laterally elongated and extend toward each other respectively from the front and rear edges of wall 15. Plate 15 has optional forwardly extending, rounded tabs 15b on either side of portion 15a, for attachment of shell 9.

Link 14 has side walls 16 which extend downwardly from and are co-extensive with top wall 15, and which diverge slightly in their condition of FIG. 4-. These walls 16 have laterally aligned round holes 21. Bottom flanges 17 connect respectively with side walls 16 and extend inwardly thereof.

Blank 14a has a rectangular, laterally elongated opening 22 extending rearwardly from the rear edge of top wall panel 15 and of greater width than raised portion 15c. This opening 22 facilitates bending of blank 14a to form link 14. Link 14 has rear flanges 18 formed by bending blank 14a downwardly along the rear edge of top wall 15, and a link rear portion 19 formed by bending blank 14a along a lateral line 19a which intersects opening 22. Top wall 15 has projections 15d extending inwardly and rearwardly of flanges 18 and just outwardly of raised portion 150. Projections 15d serve for attachment of shell 9. Flanges 18 are short and are generally perpendicular to top wall 15. Link rear portion 19 extends rearwardly of flanges 18 and is parallel to top wall 15. Rear portion 19 has outwardly extending rectangular tabs 20 connecting respectively with its side edges at the rear thereof.

The flanges 18 may be considered as the equivalent of a single flange having a central opening, and serve to make link rear portion 19'slightlydownwardly offset relative to top wall 15. j

Preferably, ornamental shell 9 is mounted upon the upper face of top wall 15. However, forconvenience of illustration, the assembled shell 9. is omitted in certain of the views,.particularly FIGS. 4, Sand 6, although said shell 9 is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as, wellas in FIG. 2, in phantom. Said shell 9 is conventional and will not be described in detail. It is merely pointed out that 'shell 9 is hollow and has an upper peripheral wall'and a periph eral side wall, without a bottom wall. In assembly, the lower edge of the peripheral wall of shell 9 rests against the upper face of top wall 15, said peripheral wall having prongs 27 which extend below wall 15 and which are bent over to engage frictionally against the lower face of top wall 15. These prongs 27 extend into the indentations corresponding to the raised portions 15a and 150 of wall 15, and do not interfere in any way with the assembly of the links.

Links 14, as shown in FIG. 4, but with the addition of the shells 9, may be optionally shipped as separate articles of commerce to dealers, such as jewelers, and the dealer may assemble the links by means of simple tools,

Steps in the assembly of two links 14 are shown in FIGS. -8, inclusive. For convenience, the two links shown in these views will be designated by the reference characters A and B. The rear portion of link A is placed under top wall 15 of link B, with tabs of link A extending through holes 21 of link B. This is shown in FIG. 5.

Walls 16 of link B are then bent toward each other so as to be perpendicular to top wall 15 and parallel to each other. This insures the retention of tabs 20 within holes 21. In this assembly, as shown in FIG. 6, bottom flanges 17 oppose each other and are coplanar and 'are parallel to top wall 15. The top walls 15 of the two links A and B are substantially coplanar. Tabs 20 can pivot about their axes within bearing holes 21, thereby permitting articulation of the links. Rear portion 19 of link A is close to the under surface of top wall 15 of link B, thereby permitting tabs 20 to pivot about their axes only-a few degrees, or until either the .rear edge of rear portion 19 of link A strikes top wall 15 of link B or the edge of top wall 15 of link B strikes rear portion 19 of link A.

It will be apparent that any desired number of links 14 may be assembled. FIG. "2' shows the manner in which one link of a chain of links 14may be secured to the casing of watch 11, and in which the other end link of the chain of links 14 may be secured to the end link of the expansion chain of links 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, catch is pivoted between cars 31 of the casing of watch 11, the pivot pin being conventional and not shown. Said catch 30 has a portion 32 which extends under link rear portion 19 and through opening 22, plate rear portion 19 being clamped frictionally by said catch portion 32.

The majority of links 33 are provided with rectangular bottom plates 33, which serve as respective bottom closures for shells 9. Respective diagonal arms 34 are pivotally connected at one end to one side of the plate 33, and at the other end to a succeeding plate 33. This is well known and is indicated in FIG. 2, although the details of the connections are omitted. Springs (not shown) which couple arms 34 and plates 33, normally hold the bracelet contracted. Elements 34a further couple the two links 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the end link plate 33 may have an extension similar to the rear portion 19 of a link 14, for connection to the'first of the links 14.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the links 14 may be'readily assembled and readily incorporated in watch bracelets, so as to permit extension of the length of such watch bracelets at will. Links 14 are particularly useful because they may be assembled with the greatest of ease, with virtually no tools.

While We have disclosed a preferred embodiment of our invention and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

A link for assembly into a watch band, said link being formedfrom a unitary bendable metal blank and having a laterally elongated top wall, opposing side walls extending downwardly from said top wall and diverging outwardly, said side walls having holes having a line joining their axes disposed substantially parallel to said top wall, bottom flanges extending towards each other from the bottom edges of said walls at generally right angles thereto and spaced sufliciently from each other to permit said flanges to be in spaced coplanar relationship by the bending of said side walls into parallelism, and a link rear portion extending rearwardly from said top wall and downwardly off-set relative thereto, said link rear portion having laterally outwardly extending alined tabs adjacent the rear edge thereof and at opposed sides of said portion, the 'alinement of said tabs being parallel to that of said holes and the distance between the free ends of said tabs being greater than the distance between said holes, the size, spacing and position of said holes and the size and spacing and position of said tabs being such as to permit preliminary assembly of successive similar links with the rear portion of a fist link below and in close proximity to the top'wall of a second link and with the tabs of the first link extending turnably intothe holes of the second link,-the side edges of said rear Portion of said first link being then spaced from said side walls of said. second .linkso as to permit said bending of said side walls of said second link into parallelism, said top walls of said successive. links being then substantially coplanar and said rear portions of said links being-then substantially coplanar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 717,555 Dover Ian. 6, 1903 2,074,046 Ciner Mar. 16, 1937 2,248,802 Better July 8, 1941 2,848,865 Napoli et al Aug. 26, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 284,546 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1952 har 

